A Congressman Had An Utterly Mesmerizing Exchange With A DEA Agent About Pothttp://www.businessinsider.com/congressman-steve-cohen-argued-with-dea-agent-about-pot-2014-5/comments
en-usWed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500Thu, 17 Aug 2017 23:40:53 -0400Corey Adwarhttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/537111956da81133744879earobert21122Mon, 12 May 2014 14:23:17 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/537111956da81133744879ea
You don't think alcohol has worse effects. It kills a person, every 10 seconds. that's 3.3 million people a year. Death toll for marijuana umm still 0. Except for the guy who got into a accident and was crushed by 1000 pounds. But that was in Mexico. Last time i checked marijuana doesn't kill your liver or make you do stupid shit like alcohol. It can be motivating or make you lazy for a hour or 2 and its the fucking Feds that mess peoples lives up. I am sure they had a good life till man got them then locked him up .Kids have been smoking coffee beans, banana peels and alcohol, why don't you make that stuff illegal.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5370fc5a6bb3f7a2358d136bSenorPescador JohnsonMon, 12 May 2014 12:52:42 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5370fc5a6bb3f7a2358d136b
what an idiot, retire this ignorant pig, look into his finances and let everyone sur it for his ignorance arrogance and greed that have ever been charged with weed possesion
this fed fool is a reasl joke and the stats are more like 70+% favor it, it is a plant, f**k the fedshttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/5370f22f69beddb1318cc467Meatbone9Mon, 12 May 2014 12:09:19 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5370f22f69beddb1318cc467
Einstein was talking about the Prohibition era in 1921...hemp wasn't outlawed until 1933 or so. Also, hemp is not Cannabis...but your point is still taken.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5370f1116bb3f7890c8d136dClementineMon, 12 May 2014 12:04:33 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5370f1116bb3f7890c8d136d
No matter his views on Marijuana.....I can't help but state that Representative Cohen is a typical, run of the mill Congressman in our..... 'do nothing'...... Congress!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5370debceab8eaba032b03a0PETER MCNUTTMon, 12 May 2014 10:46:20 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5370debceab8eaba032b03a0
Correct- arrest all your pill head family members and leave weed smokers alone-there's more important crimes being committed and law enforcement is worrying about me getting high and a lot of people are getting robbed and mugged and they don't do shit about-it's easier to get popped with pot because joints don't shoot bullets back at cha.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/537052a36bb3f755571e8f94icitall134Mon, 12 May 2014 00:48:35 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/537052a36bb3f755571e8f94
The cartels control the border, on both sides. Law enforcement at the border is corrupt and it is just a show.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/53704eb3eab8ea1a6d1e8f97icitall134Mon, 12 May 2014 00:31:47 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/53704eb3eab8ea1a6d1e8f97
I have seen how marijuana destroys lives. They put people in jail for possession and it destroys their chances of ever having a decent job in their lifetime. They can never get good credit. They can't get student loans, so they can't get a good education. They have an arrest record for the rest of their life that shows either a felony or misdemeanor drug arrest and if they ever end up in court again, that follows them there and goes against them. Yeah, marijuana can ruin lives, but it doesn't have to if it was not illegal. Marijuana is no more dangerous, and perhaps less dangerous than alcohol, yet because of agencies like the DEA, it is classified as more dangerous than crack cocaine and meth. It goes on ruining lives needlessly.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/53703123ecad04072e3ffa4blinda GodSun, 11 May 2014 22:25:39 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/53703123ecad04072e3ffa4b
FANTASTIC United States Rep Steve Cohen: They have there heads in the sand to long, We all think of the old hippie days when everybody smoked it, and may think my god now my grandson will smoke this, Well that is not going to happen. This drug is in need for pain, for gaining weight (cancer) CNN had a special with Doctor Gupta, everybody should watch . , I can remember gas lines (odd or even plates) and have had a good career in law enforcement, Our generation when we had Ken States riots the burning of over town in Miami and so on. Legalization of marijuana is necessary of this time period we are all in, I have seen to many good careers being destroyed as to a simple arrest of these fine men & women, Now that I"m old & my own wife has cancer I have to ask friends to steel marijuana from the property room at our local police station it is embarrassing, But would do anything for her, She eats and has gained weight its incredible, I can go on & on , I'm for legalization & hope you don't go threw what I have to do. GOD BLESS YOU FOR STANDING UP. They will one day get old & when they want to ease the pain or gain weight for a loved one just to have a little comfort and not take these heavy duty pain killers like morphine or other strong narcotics. GOD BLESS YOU. Senior citizen living in Florida....http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5370294c6da811605195cedfmalliaSun, 11 May 2014 21:52:12 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5370294c6da811605195cedf
THE WAR IS OVER !, WE WON.. CAPITULATE, YOU WORK FOR US. {US} YOU FORGOT THAT ?. STOP WASTING THE SLAVE TAX PAYERS MONEY, GET REAL MURDERES, O TO HARD SORRY..REAL WORK... D . B .Ohttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/53701c386bb3f774141e8f94CrumbSun, 11 May 2014 20:56:24 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/53701c386bb3f774141e8f94
A friend of mine had to go to a rehab clinic in Memphis for 30 days. It's called Lakeside. He said it was the easiest place to get drugs he'd ever seen. He's been clean and sober for several years now, but it wasn't due to Lakeside. A couple years ago I went there to pick up a relative who had spent a month there. I've never met a ruder staff anywhere. But they got the insurance money.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536fb3bcecad043c7e3ffa4dMichael TurnerSun, 11 May 2014 13:30:36 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536fb3bcecad043c7e3ffa4d
I find it interesting Mr. Cohen is responding to 55% of the peoples opinion in his argument. If he really cares what public opinion is he should poll public opinion on a few other topics...
1 Repealing Federal income tax
2 Requiring Congress members be held to all laws that they pass without any exemptions or any special privileges.
3 Before passing a law, figure out how to finance its implantation without raising taxes
4 Pass a bill with no Pork Barrel added
Shall we go on? If you are listening to the "Voice of the People" can you hear, Mr. Cohen, our other concerns? Or do you have selective hearing only for the topics to which you have an agenda?http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536fafed6bb3f7a8181e8f97k8Sun, 11 May 2014 13:14:21 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536fafed6bb3f7a8181e8f97
@Devon Property seizures is a serious issue.Law enforcement can take cars, computers, houses, money, any valuables from SUSPECTED drug criminals.Your items are sold and they take the money.I.e. You follow state law grow 10 ganja plants in your home, law enforcement comes takes your plants, equipment, cash, vehicles whatever they want and sell it for cash for themselves. Look it up. I am going to do a little research myself.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536fa373ecad04a8493ffa4bbarbara chambersSun, 11 May 2014 12:21:07 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536fa373ecad04a8493ffa4b
what concerns me most was his statement that his views on marijuana has changed very little in 30 years. all the studies, the whole plant benefits to mankind, the money {profits} to be made, the program {war on drugs} failure, etc.. we must mature and learn from our mistakes not remain blind with stubborn misconceptions and false informationhttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/536f7e3c6bb3f74d5d1e8f96Me TooSun, 11 May 2014 09:42:20 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536f7e3c6bb3f74d5d1e8f96
He says, "marijuana destroys lives and families, undermines our economy, and insults our common values." Then, explain to me, what does alcohol do again?
Read more: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/congressman-steve-cohen-argued-with-dea-agent-about-pot-2014-5#ixzz31PkFMc7M" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" >http://www.businessinsider.com/congressman-steve-cohen-argued-with-dea-agent-about-pot-2014-5#ixzz31PkFMc7M</a>http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536f7d6f6bb3f78c5c1e8f94Ned MorlefSun, 11 May 2014 09:38:55 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536f7d6f6bb3f78c5c1e8f94
we don't have hemp b/c LE can't tell the difference.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536f7c796da811684b95ceddNed MorlefSun, 11 May 2014 09:34:49 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536f7c796da811684b95cedd
I say terrorizing a family in the dark then, kicking down their doors with flashbangs and killing the family dog is trauma on the children. Throwing dad in prison if, he survives and stealing the bedroom doesn't save the children. It destroys the family and the individual conscience. Forced propaganda classes and paying probation breaks families even more. Nobody talks about the weight of gov't force in these situations destroying ppl is more cruel than killing them.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536f7b316bb3f7514d1e8f9bNed MorlefSun, 11 May 2014 09:29:21 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536f7b316bb3f7514d1e8f9b
Congress is at a conflict of giving the ppl what they want and protecting their contributor's profits.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536f6d7a69bedd6a3b3ffa4bdoodleSun, 11 May 2014 08:30:50 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536f6d7a69bedd6a3b3ffa4b
EXCESSIVE LAUGHING- THINK OF THE "PAIN"IC or picnic- the excessive flatuencehttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/536f6b5f69bedd5c403ffa4ddoodleSun, 11 May 2014 08:21:51 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536f6b5f69bedd5c403ffa4d
WHILE HERION RUNS WILD IN AFGAN-- MEXICO SHOOTINGS KILL MORE THEN VIET NAM AND IRAQUI/ AFGAN - GOVT-- MILITARY PURCHASING--DHB HATFIELD- JUST GOT 7 YRS- DAVEY GOT 17 YRS--$2OO MILLION- MILITARY VEST / STOCK MARKET{changed numb3rs while at annual meeting/ ON VOICE INTERNET- CLEAR HEAD!!} $ 6/10 MILLION PARTIES- 200 RACE HORSES- A LONG LONG FIGHThttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/536f69d269bedd5a403ffa4bdoodleSun, 11 May 2014 08:15:14 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536f69d269bedd5a403ffa4b
while i'm here- LISTEN-- FROM NYC TO MONTAUK--- POLTICKS, POLICE / JAIL SYSTEM-BUSINESS PEOPLE- DISABILITY SCAMMERS - MORE NEWS- OK , NOT HERE BUT LI TV / CABLE-- STATEN ISLAND- NY POST - 2 TIMES ---EVERY PAPER CARRYS L.I. RAILROAD SCAMMER / COPPER THEFT. LONG ISLAND /METRO INVESTIGATIONS, JAILINGS, CLAWBACKS-- MORE TO COMEhttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/536f68acecad04f9763ffa4bSlimsmomSun, 11 May 2014 08:10:20 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536f68acecad04f9763ffa4b
I believe the main reason the government is so far behind the citizenry is because of all the money it would lose by decriminalizing or legalizing it. Cops are paid to enforce antiquated laws. Lawyers and public defenders make their money defending the offenders. For profit rehabilitation centers are crammed with poor people who are court ordered to attend them. For-profit prisons are crammed with offenders. The government revenue from fines and penalties would drop. If pot were legalized there would be a major drop in revenue for a lot of government employees and private companies.
It would be interesting to see which view of marijuana makes the government and their sycophants more money. Does the government make more money by prosecuting offenders, or would it make more money by simply legalizing it and getting the tax revenue?
I think the die has already been cast as far as legalization is concerned. Now it is a matter of getting the rest of the nation to come to its senses and legalize it as Colorado and Washington state has done. It's only a matter of time. Hopefully, it will be sooner rather than later.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536f684d69bedddc233ffa4fdoodleSun, 11 May 2014 08:08:45 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536f684d69bedddc233ffa4f
clink- counter-- 124 no's -- 7 yes -- any respectable publication would check it outhttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/536f5e9e69bedd84093ffa4bbob2Sun, 11 May 2014 07:27:26 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536f5e9e69bedd84093ffa4b
Hey Bob,
It's not the old guys who are the problem. The problem lies within our "Justice System" and the people with law degrees who make a living off of "crime."http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536f56d0ecad041b2d3ffa4bthais.lumppSun, 11 May 2014 06:54:08 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536f56d0ecad041b2d3ffa4b
Harrigan repeated an earlier statement that "marijuana destroys lives and families, undermines our economy, and insults our common values."
Americans have suffered through a total lack of political leadership, overpowering corporate greed and bullying, corrupt law enforcement tactics since the early 1980s. What a little weed going to harm them? I’m tired of the twisted, rich and powerful telling me what I can and cannot do with my life. Anyone else out there tired of this crap also?http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536f45056da811ac4095cee2Legalize ItSun, 11 May 2014 05:38:13 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536f45056da811ac4095cee2
Are you an idiot?http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536f43966bb3f70d181e8f94Legalize ItSun, 11 May 2014 05:32:06 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536f43966bb3f70d181e8f94
Harrigan and his gang of DEA thugs are criminals and fools of the worst kind.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536f364aeab8eafe721e8fa1JuergenSun, 11 May 2014 04:35:22 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536f364aeab8eafe721e8fa1
I'm glad to hear a good debate on weed. I don't know how many thousands of people are in the slammer because of pot.
DEA's Harrigan......? He and a lot of others are going to have a lot less to do as marijuana is decriminalized.
As much as I applaud the debate, I'd sure like to hear about more Congressional action on things that are really holding the country back. Heck, the list goes on forever with pot way down the list.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536f17416da811cb677c70b9ORCSun, 11 May 2014 02:22:57 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536f17416da811cb677c70b9
" "From a bare minimum, as a parent, as a former educator, as a law enforcement official for all these years, I have seen the devastation that marijuana has caused not only on individuals, on families and communities," Harrison said.
You mean that devestation bought on when your life is ripped away from you.. your possessions all stolen from you.. you job taken away.. and then your locked inside a 6x4 cell for 10-20... all for possession of a plant... that the kind of devistation you referring to?http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536ef22069bedd73347c70b9IronwillSat, 10 May 2014 23:44:32 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536ef22069bedd73347c70b9
Right after the testimony, a frustrated Harrigan went out with his cronies for a 6 martini meal and then went home and abused his family.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536ee1346da811ca6f7c70bfBig ESat, 10 May 2014 22:32:20 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536ee1346da811ca6f7c70bf
How about we but a $25.00 per ounce on it. If half of Americans by a ounce a month that would generate around 450 billion a year. This DEA guy is a POS. I tell you what ruins peoples lives is having to leave boat loads of innocent people at sea to die like I did while in the US Coast Guard. Now that will fuck you up.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536ed891eab8ea343c7c70baRon ParsonsSat, 10 May 2014 21:55:29 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536ed891eab8ea343c7c70ba
The only devastation has been created by misguided law enforcment and their effect on peoples lives.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536ed7e0eab8ea2d3c7c70bbREIDSat, 10 May 2014 21:52:32 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536ed7e0eab8ea2d3c7c70bb
of course the DEA guy doesn't want pot to be legal just like the reveune agents didn't want liq our legal the livelihood depends on keeping it illegalhttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/536ed2ea6da811f6327c70bewordSat, 10 May 2014 21:31:22 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536ed2ea6da811f6327c70be
Enough said. Nobody say anything else.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536eccfd6bb3f7f9537c70c0TherealgregSat, 10 May 2014 21:06:05 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536eccfd6bb3f7f9537c70c0
By devastation I can only assume he means when he sends someone's father or child to prison for presuming to practice freedom in a way that harms nobody.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536ea3e76da811ed5e7c70bcBKABQSat, 10 May 2014 18:10:47 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536ea3e76da811ed5e7c70bc
I think the Neanderthals were there long before Obama.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536e94e46da81137197c70bbJim LeggeSat, 10 May 2014 17:06:44 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536e94e46da81137197c70bb
Thank you!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536e94a7ecad04fb6a7c70bacmjSat, 10 May 2014 17:05:43 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536e94a7ecad04fb6a7c70ba
If anyone thinks anyone in the DEA is ever going to back off any drug, I have a bridge to see. Like the American Cancer society, it's nothing more that job security and we allow them to keep wasting our money for their job security.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536e94186da81172207c70b9Jim LeggeSat, 10 May 2014 17:03:20 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536e94186da81172207c70b9
Congratulations to Rep. Steve Cohen for having the courage to say out loud what the majority of Americans feel regarding the legalization of marijuana. Thomas Harrigan is a coward who has made his living sending people to jail for using a drug that is finally being recognized as helpful to people with various medical conditions. His reluctance to keep up with science shows he is no longer fit for his job.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536c589beab8ea5f58094abdPaul V. TupointeauFri, 09 May 2014 00:24:59 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536c589beab8ea5f58094abd
I see your point. But then, including industrial hemp in a law prohibiting possession of marijuana made no sense either. For that matter, the law prohibiting marijuana, ostensibly on grounds of promoting health and morality, made no sense. Except to the business interests that have, in any of several ways, cashed in on it.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536c522769bedd4204152cc9Dan RichesonThu, 08 May 2014 23:57:27 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536c522769bedd4204152cc9
Time to step it up a notch. We in the canna community have bore the brunt of brutal actions by the ignorant bigoted sociopathic prohibitionist community long enough. I believe the time has come for us to become militant in securing our rights. Prohibitionists must come to realize that they now have their own flesh on the table, this as impetus for them to rethink their positions and come to respect our rights. If they should choose to remain ignorant and bigoted and to impose their punitive measures against us they must come to understand there will be an awful price to pay for their thoughtlessness, their bigotry and their evil spirit.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536b9b4769bedd1a3933ed16Bob OnitThu, 08 May 2014 10:57:11 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536b9b4769bedd1a3933ed16
Here's how stupid the war on drug is, and how illogical the laws are. Cannabis is categorized as a schedule 1 drug, the most dangerous. Cocaine is a schedule 2 drug. So in effect the argument that Cannabis is a "gateway drug" make no sense. So you telling me that Cannabis leads to LESS DANGEROUS drug use?
I am a cancer patient that uses medical Cannabis every day. My doctors have seen a reduction in the masses in my lung since I've started a high CBD treatment. If my doctor and I agree that it is worth trying and HELPING why shouldn't I have access to that? I'm actually in favor of complete legalization, regulated like the two most dangerous drugs which are seemingly approved by the govt, Alcohol and Tobacco. Once Phillip Morris and big tobacco or big alcohol start sending money to the politicians Cannabis will be legalized. The govt and our "representatives" are just waiting for their palms to be greased. Until then otherwise law abiding, full time employed, war veteran, taxpayers like me must look over their shoulder to see if the law is coming and feeling like a criminal. I'm just trying to extend my life and ease my symptoms.
Just remember, if you vote against Cannabis that when you get a disease that it will treat that it will not be there for you either. If you vote for medical cannabis or legalizing cannabis the life you save may be your own, or your brother, or your child. Think about that.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536b8c7eeab8eaad0c33ed1dRene ZickafooseThu, 08 May 2014 09:54:06 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536b8c7eeab8eaad0c33ed1d
The current President has admitted to using Cannabis, not for medical reasons, but to alter his consciousness. He also admitted to using Cocaine. The current Attorney General, also admitted to using Cannabis. Am I the only one here who understands that the leaders of our country are ADMITTED FELONS under the current legal structure when it comes to recreational drug use? If you want to instill "common values", it helps when your argument has a leg to stand on. I have lived in fear all my life, not from some backwoods retards in the Middle East, but from backwoods retards here in my own country. Terrorized by my own governments' policy. It is long past the time any rational individual who does not suck greedily at the teats of special interest, to make their voice heard. Nobody wants to die of an overdose. And no NASCAR driver wants to die in a ball of fire. And yet we allow the latter to happen because consistency of ideology is not one of our strong points? If you are for imprisoning people for recreational drug use, then you MUST be for imprisoning people for recreation. Both are a complete waste of time and resources. Just try and understand that some people want to climb the mountains of the world. While others want to climb the mountains of the mind. Live and let live America. Live and let live. Please, I beg you.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536b07836bb3f7537656cf4cBlair SpacekThu, 08 May 2014 00:26:43 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536b07836bb3f7537656cf4c
Thank you, Mr. Harrigan - really sticking to your guns. No matter that marijuana has never been proven to cause a single death, no matter that celebrities openly enjoy it, no matter that the president states what everyone already know: marijuana is a lot less harmful than alcohol. Because - after all, if you "change your views," that means that you admit that the obscene amount of money given to the DEA for fighting marijuana trafficking is unwarranted. Maybe we should be asking someone who isn't making a killing off of putting people in jail for something the majority of American supports. Your time is done, Harrigan, people aren't buying your fearmonger routine any more.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536ae09769beddcb763ba1c9Raymond MoserWed, 07 May 2014 21:40:39 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536ae09769beddcb763ba1c9
I blame Barack Obama for the appointment of neandethrals at the DEA. One phone call can get rid of these creeps who have not learned one thing in 30 years.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536a9d39ecad04537d09b1feDevonWed, 07 May 2014 16:53:13 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536a9d39ecad04537d09b1fe
Bingo!
However what do you mean by this: "The extra profits from property seizures by the various law enforcement agencies."?
Also, why would the government be concerned with the market share and profits of the drug cartel?http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536a6ca469bedd552fd1b080DarrellWed, 07 May 2014 13:25:56 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536a6ca469bedd552fd1b080
For years now I have been keeping secrets about people I know in my hometown who use pot. I have known one judge, four teachers, MANY police officers, a probation officer, and MANY "upstanding" citizens. Nobody has ANY idea these people use pot. The majority of them are very successful and are great parents. The only lives I have seen devastated by pot are the ones, and families of, that go to jail/prison for possession of pot. My best friend spent 45 of his last 60 days on this Earth for possessing a very small piece of a bud that wouldn't have made a roach. This agent is FUS!!!!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536a578269bedd1b53d1b083RockyWed, 07 May 2014 11:55:46 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536a578269bedd1b53d1b083
Of Course the DEA man is against cannabis... They would have to eliminate quite a few jobs, if it were legalized. Then there's the matter of property confiscation... They make an awful lot of money from confiscating people's property, who have been arrested from possession.
In short, his stance is solely attributable to economics and his agency's continued status and has nothing to do with science, or the subject matter, at hand.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536a3fd36da811683469d0a0Jim DedmonWed, 07 May 2014 10:14:43 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536a3fd36da811683469d0a0
One problem is the paradigm of what a marijuana user looks like/is...the 70's gave us Cheech and Chong and George Carlin so these types of charactors became sterotypical as to what a pot smoker looks like. The truth is that this is no more true than saying everyone who drinks is like Foster Brooks. I watch Bill O'Reilly push that narrative all the time.
What I will say is that alcohol is addictive, it, by it's overuse leads to violence (I have over my many years seen wives, kids, animals all terribly abused by drunks)...in my life I've never seen a person brought to violence by the use of it (An arguement can be made of people who steal to procure it...same applies for alcoholics though).
Once it's legalized....why is it that most folks don't look at all the tobacco prevention stuff and say..."we can put out the same stuff on weed"? There is revenue to be made on taxes and on the commercial possibilities and we don't have to "open the faucet" and let anyone under 21 use...we do it with tobacco, alcohol...why in hell can't we do it with marijuana?http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536a3335ecad049378b1a779TINCUPWed, 07 May 2014 09:20:53 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536a3335ecad049378b1a779
I wish the congressman would have asked this bozo, which drug he thinks causes more deaths, more divorced couples, more damage to family stability, pot or alcoholhttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/536a1b056da811975b69d09dDavid BensonWed, 07 May 2014 07:37:41 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536a1b056da811975b69d09d
Industrial hemp and marijuana are different animals. Industrial hemp contains such a small amount of THC that it doesn't get one high.
Including industrial hemp in a discussion of marijuana makes no sense.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/53697a5369beddfd7c45c44eTHEWRIGHTPLACETue, 06 May 2014 20:12:03 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/53697a5369beddfd7c45c44e
Legalize them all! Get rid if the DEA and save BILLIONS!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5369799269beddbc6d45c44dTHEWRIGHTPLACETue, 06 May 2014 20:08:50 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5369799269beddbc6d45c44d
Funny how thew govt is the one destroying lives and not this stuff!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/53696e30eab8eac6221b93e1PartofTheSolutionTue, 06 May 2014 19:20:16 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/53696e30eab8eac6221b93e1
Are you a Fascist? Because that is the classic definition of corporate government. Declaring cannabis a dangerous drug was one of the first successes of our fascist corporate government. Oh, and by the way...
“Hemp is of first necessity to the wealth & protection of the country.”- Thomas Jefferson, U.S. President
“Make the most you can of the Indian Hemp seed and sow it everywhere.”- George Washington, U.S. President
“We shall, by and by, want a world of hemp more for our own consumption.”- John Adams, U.S. President
“Prohibition... goes beyond the bound of reason in that it attempts to control a man’s appetite by legislation and makes a crime out of things that are not crimes. A prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principles upon which our government was founded” -Abraham Lincoln
“The prestige of government has undoubtedly been lowered considerably by the prohibition law. For nothing is more destructive of respect for the government and the law of the land than passing laws which cannot be enforced. It is an open secret that the dangerous increase of crime in this country is closely connected with this.” - Albert Einstein quote on Hemp
or?
“I now have absolute proof that smoking even one marijuana cigarette is equal in brain damage to being on Bikini Island during an H-bomb blast” - Ronald Reagan
So you are either smarter than Einstein or as stupid as Alzheimer Ronnie. Guess which? lolhttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/53696d6decad04263d45c454Zhandro MacaroyoTue, 06 May 2014 19:17:01 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/53696d6decad04263d45c454
He just as ignorant as those people that says there's no life in the universe other than on Earth.....http://www.businessinsider.com/c/53695ad86da8116d7d86ca0eSgtStormTue, 06 May 2014 17:57:44 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/53695ad86da8116d7d86ca0e
A May 6 story about a March 4 hearing. Nice. I'll be looking for your breaking story about an airplane going missing in the Indian Ocean by mid-summer!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536951156bb3f7426545c453lockemupTue, 06 May 2014 17:16:05 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536951156bb3f7426545c453
Are you a criminal. Don't like laws?http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536950306da811b63f86ca0d?Tue, 06 May 2014 17:12:16 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536950306da811b63f86ca0d
"I have seen what it can do to people. I've seen plenty of my friends waste their life away due to weed"
im pretty sure if you asked these people if they were wasting their lives smoking weed they would laugh at you. People need to understand that we all have different values not everyone wants to spend most of their time working towards a goal (example. studying every day all day for a degree and decent job) some other people prefer to enjoy what they have and take it one day at a time.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/53694f99eab8ead4041b93e5earl carrollTue, 06 May 2014 17:09:45 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/53694f99eab8ead4041b93e5
drugs are for sale and available in every jail and prison in this country...the guards bring it in...if you can't keep drugs out of the jails and prisons how on earth to do think the drug war can ever be won..http://www.businessinsider.com/c/53694efdecad04092d45c44fJose GonzalesTue, 06 May 2014 17:07:09 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/53694efdecad04092d45c44f
As long as marijuana is illegal, it will be sold next to cocaine, heroin, and other dangerous drugs. The DEA should be charged under the RICO Act for racketeering.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/53694d9669bedd444e45c452Sterling ArcherTue, 06 May 2014 17:01:10 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/53694d9669bedd444e45c452
Mr. Harrigan is trying to protect his cushy government job.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5369462c6da811870186ca10Agree with YOUTue, 06 May 2014 16:29:32 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5369462c6da811870186ca10
WAY past the time that any rational person would totally agreeeeeee:::::::
the entire 'war' on drugs a total,,, be sure it's clear,,, TOTAL failure for all except the creeps that keep on keeping on harrassing and hurting people of all kinds and families of all kinds
PLEASE, PLEASE,, PLEASE,,,PLEASEhttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/5369460e69bedd323345c44cSlick WillieTue, 06 May 2014 16:29:02 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5369460e69bedd323345c44c
Agreed. However,if weed is going to be de-emphasized, the other drugs need to become more aggressively target. Preferably at the border and as harshly as possible. Then a overt elimination of the gangs that sell the poisons. What ever it takes...http://www.businessinsider.com/c/53694336ecad04127745c44bpushbuttonchimpTue, 06 May 2014 16:16:54 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/53694336ecad04127745c44b
Totally agree, but I would ask, shouldn't we be using the term "decriminalization" instead of "legalization"?
I really don't want pot legalized, I want it decriminalized and completely non-legal. I don't need it to be permitted or un-permitted. Pot shouldn't even be in the legal sphere, like trees. People burn trees and tree leaves, and this is not legal or illegal, except for maybe some ordinance against the smoke it causes as being an environmental hazard..
I want pot in the completely non-legal category, completely out of the sphere of law as to its use or non-use, just like trees.
And for that matter we should do the same for cocaine and heroin. The sooner these drugs are only a harm to their users and not some concern of law enforcement other than being the cause of some public safety the better. If the user impacts others then a crime is committed, other than that, if people want to use them, go for it. They become their own problem, not a problem of the courts unless somebody else gets hurt.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536940bf69bedd3a1c45c44ddugTue, 06 May 2014 16:06:23 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536940bf69bedd3a1c45c44d
When you lock people up for using some Mary Jane, that is what causes devastation to individuals, families, and communities. Not the actual usage itself. Harrigan is essentially saying that when he locks people up that MJ is making him do it.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/53693f4869beddd20efa86afdhTue, 06 May 2014 16:00:08 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/53693f4869beddd20efa86af
"From a bare minimum, as a parent, as a former educator, as a law enforcement official for all these years, I have seen the devastation that marijuana has caused not only on individuals, on families and communities," -- could not the same thing be said of alcohol, yet alcohol is legal (save for that little experiment called prohibition . . . which worked out well).
Bottom line, "banning" behavior does not stop it, it only serves to push said behavior underground and in some senses creates an additional "reward" or excitement for engaging in illicit behavior (especially for young people). Bring it above ground, license it, tax it, monitor it and you're actually solving two problems: 1) you're helping to kill certain facets of organized crime that subsist off of said "banned" behavior, and 2) you're bringing in a revenue stream to help treat those who go overboard. It should be noted, I think, that regardless of whether or not you legalize marijuana, just as with alcohol, there will be people who abuse it, and people who do not.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/53693ed8eab8ea4b32b1a104+1Tue, 06 May 2014 15:58:16 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/53693ed8eab8ea4b32b1a104
nailed it.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/53693d656bb3f7921f552bdcskepticusmaximusTue, 06 May 2014 15:52:05 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/53693d656bb3f7921f552bdc
Legalizing marijuana is a very serious threat to:
* The budgets of various State and local law enforcement agencies.
* The careers of many Federal (DEA) agents.
* The profits of the Private Prison Industry.
* The extra profits from property seizures by the various law enforcement agencies.
* The profits and market share held by the Mexican drug cartels.
* The profits of Big Pharma.
I'm sure I'm missing a few others.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/53693cb36bb3f7601d552bdbmy.commentTue, 06 May 2014 15:49:07 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/53693cb36bb3f7601d552bdb
and in all likelihood, those destroyed lives and communities are the result of these idiotic laws that sentence recreational users to years' long prison terms.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/53693ab269bedd877bfa86a9Bob LoblawTue, 06 May 2014 15:40:34 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/53693ab269bedd877bfa86a9
I can't stand weed. I have seen what it can do to people. I've seen plenty of my friends waste their life away due to weed. (Yes, weed can become a reason for living for some.)
However, the war on drugs is clearly stupid and an abject failure. It's time for these old guys to realize that and just admit it. It's been a complete waste of time, money, and lives. It needs to end.
What people put in their bodies is their own business. Simple as that.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5369392cecad046c41c385b8snakiTue, 06 May 2014 15:34:04 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5369392cecad046c41c385b8
More people use marijuana now than before the start of the so-called drug war. This complete failure of a war is a waste of money. Time to move on. Legalize it and regulate it. Tax it and use the proceed to educate and treat addiction.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/53693800ecad048033c385b8QTue, 06 May 2014 15:29:04 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/53693800ecad048033c385b8
I'm guessing he didn't answer the question because the only devastation that exists is that which results from excessive punishment for acts that shouldn't be illegal in the first place.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536935f3ecad043a28c385c0Just A GuyTue, 06 May 2014 15:20:19 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/536935f3ecad043a28c385c0
Are you in the pocket of big pharma?http://www.businessinsider.com/c/53693378eab8ea7f7cb1a0ffbiffTue, 06 May 2014 15:09:44 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/53693378eab8ea7f7cb1a0ff
The devastation on individuals, families, and communities has been caused by marijuana prohibition, not by marijuana itself.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/53693362eab8ea9f74b1a0fd1usernameTue, 06 May 2014 15:09:22 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/53693362eab8ea9f74b1a0fd
I have no "common" values with anyone. Especially a fucking law enforcement officer.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5369321b6da8116207673a7eBlah Blah Blah ...Tue, 06 May 2014 15:03:55 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/5369321b6da8116207673a7e
“From a bare minimum, as a parent, as a former educator, as a law enforcement official for all these years, I have seen the devastation that marijuana has caused not only on individuals, on families and communities,” Harrigan said.
The only devastation here is on common sense and intellect. I'd like the details surrounding all these lives that have been devastated solely by marijuana while this holier-than-thou asshole sat back and watched as an educator, parent and LEO.
What a self-serving crock of shit.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/53692bc2ecad04677ec385c2Anti-MotaTue, 06 May 2014 14:36:50 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/53692bc2ecad04677ec385c2
It's self-medication for the mentally ill. Promote more psychiatry and psychotherapy along with law enforcement to win the drug war.